Volunteering
I firmly believe in volunteerism and have been a volunteer all my adult life for various causes beginning as a tutor for mentally handicapped students in Santa Barbara, as a program assistant for juveniles in detention in Coos County, as the music director for Unity Church of Coos Bay, as a founder and fundraiser of a community library in North Plains, and now as a gardener at the Rogerson Clematis Garden in Lake Oswego and as a foster care provider for Guide Dogs For the Blind in Boring, OR.
Rogerson Clematis Garden
The Rogerson Clematis Garden is located at the Luscher Farm Park, 125 Rosemont Rd, West Linn, OR. With more than 2,300 individual clematis representing 940 distinct species, the Rogerson Clematis Garden contains the most comprehensive collection of clematis within a public garden in North America.
Shortly after moving to Lake Oswego, I discovered this garden within one mile of me while exploring the nearby Lusher Farm Park. The beauty of it was amazing! And it was all maintained by volunteers! It was a perfect fit for me since I love gardens and gardening. Since 2020 I have been a regular volunteer, working one day a week. Many friends there call me the “mole lady” because I have been trapping moles since I began working. Of course, I perform other gardening duties and help with their various fundraisers and classes. It is a lovely place to volunteer all year long. Weather is no obstacle for a group of dedicated gardeners!
Guide Dogs For the Blind
Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) has two campuses: one in San Rafael, CA, and the other, in Boring, OR. It is the largest guide dog school in North America and all of its services are provided free of charge.
I have always loved dogs. My life would not be complete without 1 or 2 dogs in the home. Although Penny is our current companion, I felt that volunteering for GDB would be a good match for me. Because the Boring campus is located only 25 miles from me, I qualified to be a foster care provider for any dogs needing temporary care. Since beginning to volunteer there and training in Jan 2024, I have enjoyed caring for 5 incredible wonderful guide dogs. Each one was different, but all were the best-trained and most loveable dogs. This activity has been extremely rewarding for both Mark and me and I look forward to caring for many more guide dogs.
Here are photos of the dogs I have fostered so far:
